Conductor

Since February 2007, our orchestra has been conducted by Hendrik Jan Brethouwer. Hendrik Jan studied the oboe at the music academies in Groningen and Amsterdam. As a conductor he is self educated and as well as conducting symphonic and wind orchestras, conducts choirs.

Hendrik Jan: "Creating music is my life and my passion. I honestly do not have a particular preference for playing the oboe, conducting or teaching. Most important is your own enthusiasm, the people you are creating music with and last but not least the people you are creating music for."

"I think it is important that the members of the orchestra, when rehearsing, enhance their view of the compositions with an 'ear' for detail as well as the consistency and dialogue of the different voices, whilst being aware of their role within the composition. It is not my task to improve people's technical skills, it is to let them make music together and improve on that."

"The Leidse Harmoniekapel is a lively orchestra. I do not have any other ambition than to get out of it what is there. With specific concern to making music, the result can be more than the sum of individual parts. An orchestra is like a soccer team; sometimes I am the keeper, sometimes I give the pass. I hope I give people the feeling that they can acheive the goal. Perhaps it's also enough that, when at 22.15 on Wednesday evening the bandsmen can put their instruments in their cases feeling good about their orchestral accomplishments."